Insulator



Jan. 24, 1950 A. HANSEN, SR, El AL INSULATOR Filed March 16, 1948 Asger Hansen Sr.

Robert R. Brown I INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 24,. 1950 umreo: size-res r INSULATOR Asger- Hansensh; and RohentrRfiBrown, in Houston, Teicm.

Application M'a'rchlfi, 1948, Serial No. 15,068

3 claims. (o1. 17.4153).

pl'a'itelor panel comprising thebasei'of a sign:

In: illuminated signs"embodyingzewhata is';;com- I mon-ly stermedazf-n'eon-i tubes of: thev'neenfv type; 1 a relatively high voltage is required Cto illummate;

the-gas filled rlmninescenti'tubes comprising the signal A igreataideal sofidifiicultyxis; experienced in 5 of thiserelativel izhiglrivoltageiin-that it leaks-cover. insulating::surfacesiand "thus finds a 1 parallel. path-tot? conductivity? Particularly does": this:ieakage occunbetween:luminescenttubesandir the sign plate! througlmvhich ;theitubesapasspand such leakage-eventually lesll1t's1-in3the destruction ofthe tu bing. -and, as Well, the transformersup plyingrthelhigh voltage energyzt The 1 leakage betweentithes tube :and": the: sign tiplatei-is 1 increased when .the housingxorbushing contacting thessign plate, and the tube, become-damp in' wet weather; 1

such:leakage :frequently:iprogressing to form a short -circuit betweenfitheitwo. It has been found, also, that bugs, which are attracted towards the sign stick to such tubes and *form'a conducting luminescent element mounted ton a signz-xlplate'.

which, housingor. bushing .is provided with areentrant passage or air space ltozgeifectivelytinsulate the electrode from theeign plate.

Anot'her.:-obj'ect .of. the. invention 1. is toi'provi'de an insulator for passing a luminescent tube through a sign plate which insulator can be removably secured to the sign plate and which is provided with a re-entrant passage to provide an elongated surface for leakage, and also an air space which cooperate to minimize leakage between the tube and the plate.

Still another object is to provide an insulator to surround an element to be insulated, such insulator having an annular reentrant passage about, but spaced from, such element whereby there is provided an extended surface and an air space which effectively prevent electrical leakage over the surface of the insulator to the element.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from a con sideration of the following description and drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of an insulator embodyin the invention and comprising a bushingeshow-ing inrelevation auluminescentfistubee positioned:t-herein=.. Fig; 2 zshowsra wertiealz sectional;viewaofzarrwin sulatorlshousing with a; tube rpositioned:ztherein:

anddllustrates a 'mEEvIISJDf conducting an ele'ctri-scalncurrenttov the electrode. or'illu'minating; tube;

Fig; 3 is.amiewaonztherliner3+3 of 'Fig;;2.;1

The preferred embodiment ofqthe-zinventibnsis: illustrated FigSLil .andx'Z .and;is;shown'-'as.1co prising the insulatcrxdenotedrzgenerally:ati3 "goo-e: sitien'edx-inrthe"openlng t of .theiisign .plateiii. The receptaclentcomprises: thee-annular-element 1 whiclr is:provided vwit-hiethe :opening 8 extending; therethitough arrangedlito passithe illuminating-:- tuhehavingv-an: electrode 59 therein;

The insulator-23 may be positioned; onathe 'sign :1 plate 11 any-suitable. manner, and ,toiathisiendc there i .fermcdthereonra flan e/'12: arranged $012 abutone sidecl 3 ofwthei sign plate 25. A; groove I 4 is. arrangedsmiths-cuter periphery l 5 er the: in?! su-latorr l landnimmediately adjacent the; based 6 ofcth'e flange 2a. .A- snap-. ring-il 8 fits inethewgroove": l i andzisxarranged to abuttheside lfl-oi the sign: plateaar Imthis'mannercthezhousing or receptacle"; can 1 be readily positioned :"on'; a, 1 signi'plate. a

l-leretotoreea great. dealiiof 'difiiculty hasvzbeenr experi enceda y the: leakage of: voltage: along the:- surface: or peripheral 5::ofz the insulator I. Such." electrical energy leaks around the edge 20 acrosse I the. surface": 2 and thence 5 discharges; toithe etube lll;=-p roximate.rthe point'22.:l' This leakageiisiofai course increasedgwhen-xthelsurfacesaI 5. and v2 I: beL- come-.ldampnanddnany eventzit leadstmultimateu destruction of the tube I1! and attendantldama'ge" as well as loss of use of the signipendingerepairi Also, it :has been :found. that insects? and bugs, which are attracted to the sign, become stuck between the housing I and the tubing l0 adjacent the point 22 on the surface of such tube, and the electrode therein thereby forming a leakage path between the sign plate 5 and the illuminating tube Ill.

In order to prevent destructive leakage in the manner above described, the present invention provides a re-entrant passage 23 adjacent the opening '8 and extending about the tube II]. This toroidal reentrant passage preferably extends outwardly beyond the plane of the side I3 of the plate 5 whereby there are provided concentric cylindrical surfaces 26 and 2'! joined at their outermost ends. By virtue of such construction the surfaces 26 and 21 will remain dry even in the most severe storms thereby preventing leakage which would otherwise take place. It is to be noted that the surface over which leakage must occur is greatly increased. At the same time an air space is provided which assists in resisting the entrance of moisture.

The housing, as shown in Fig. 2 and embodying the invention, is provided with an arm 30 which extends rearwardly and longitudinally of the housing I. Secured adjacent the lower end of the arm 30 by suitable means such as the lug I3 is a bracket 32 adapted to receive the resilient contact 33 thereon. The resilient contact may be secured to the bracket 32 by any suitable means and is shown as being retained in position by the bolt 35 and the nut 36. The lug 3| also functions as-a high potential terminal to which a cable 38 may be secured to supply electrical-energy through the bracket 32 and the contact 33 to the illuminating tube Ill. 1 g

While it is believed that the construction and operation of the invention is apparent from the foregoing, by way of further illustration and amplification it will be assumed that the device is to be secured to an electrical sign having the front plate 5 through which the tubular illuminating elements are to pass. The flange I2 is fitted adjacent the front side I3 of the sign plate 5 while the snap ring or another suitable clamping device is arranged in the groove M to abut the rear side [9 of the sign plate 5 thereby positioning the housing or bushing I in the opening 4 through the sign plate.

Leakage of electrical energy along the surfaces l5 and 2! and the edge 20 to the electrode adjacent the point 22 is eliminated by providing an air space which insulates the illuminating tube ID from the sign plate 5. Such air space is formed by the reentrant passage 23 which extends into the housing or bushing 1 adjacent the opening 8 and is formed continuous about the tube It. Before the electrical energy creeping along the surface can contact the tube 10 approximate the point 22 thereon, it is necessary that it pass over the surfaces 26 and 21 of the reentrant passage. It has been found, as a practical matter, that this increased distance and the air space formed by the novel structure effectively prevent leakage which has heretofore caused damage to the illuminating tube and, as well, the transformer supplying energy to the sign.

'Broadly, the invention contemplates a new and improved insulator which successfully prevents destructive leakage or discharge of electrical energy to the element intended to be insulated thereby.

What is claimed is:

11. An insulator for electric signs having a, front forwardly beyond the sign plate to increase the insulating effect of the body between the sign plate and the element.

2. In combination with an electric sign having a front plate and tubular illuminating electrodes, a receptacle formed of insulating material to receive a luminescent element extending through the sign plate, said receptacle having a passage therethrough to receive said element, a flange formed on said receptacle to abut the sign plate, there being a groove adjacent said flange, and lock means positioned in said groove to hold the sign plate and receptacle together, and a reentrant air gap in said receptacle concentric about said passage in which the illuminating element is positioned, said gap extending forwardly beyond said plate to insulate the sign plate from the element.

3. A receptacle for receiving luminescent elements passing through a sign plate comprising, an annular body formed of insulating material, means to secure said body in a sign plate, there being an opening through said body to receive the luminescent element, an annular reentrant passage adjacent said opening and extending forwardly thereabout beyond the plane of the sign plate to create air gap insulation from the element extending through the housing, and an arm extending rearwardly and longitudinally of said housing to receive an electrical terminal for connection with said luminescent element.

ASGER HANSEN, SR. ROBERT R. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 878,646 Locke Q Feb. 11, 1908 904,369 Steinberger Nov. 17, 1908 1,075,573 Johannesen Oct. 14, 1913 1,878,247 Beck Sept. 20, 1932 

